Will reactivation of the Iron Rhine railroad decrease survival of badgers (Meles meles) in Meinweg National Park, The Netherlands?
van der Grift EA and Nieuwenhuizen W. 2002. Will reactivation of the Iron Rhine railroad decrease survival of badgers (Meles meles) in Meinweg National Park, The Netherlands?. Lutra. 45(1):29-48
The impact of reactivating the historic railroad Iron Rhine on badger population viability in Meinweg National Park was investigated. Five scenarios for reactivation were compared: (1) temporarily reactivating the railroad, (2) permanently reactivating the railroad, without sound barriers, (3) permanently reactivating the railroad, with sound barriers, (4) a bypass north of the park, and (5) a bypass south of the park. Based on field data on distribution and occupation of badger setts, configurations of both (potential) badger habitat and badger (meta)populations were analysed. For each scenario the impacts of habitat loss, destruction of setts, mortality caused by train-badger collisions and barrier effect on badger population viability were quantified. Impacts on potential badger habitat were addressed qualitatively. Reactivation of the railroad Iron Rhine will have greatest impact on badgers within the park if the historic railroad is permanently reactivated and sound barriers are constructed. If no mitigation measures to facilitate the exchange of badgers are taken the badger population will be split in two groups, neither of which will be viable. Both a northern and southern bypass will not endanger the existence of badger groups that currently inhabit the park. Further, the decline in carrying capacity of both the key patch and habitat network as a result of either of these new railroad sections is small enough not to impact the viability of the badger population. Temporarily reactivating the Iron Rhine will have no severe impact on badger survival of the current population. The population viability can be increased by enhancing and improving areas which are potentially suitable for badgers within and around the park. However, habitat enhancement and the future badger population will be negatively affected by reactivation of the historic railroad (with or without sound barriers) and the construction of a southern bypass. Nevertheless, mitigation measures may r
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- van der Grift, Edgar; Nieuwenhuizen, Wim
- Units
- ARD
- Keywords
- Badger, barrier effects, Bioacoustics, Habitat Fragmentation, Habitat Loss, Impact Assessment, Mammals, Meles meles, Mortality, population viability, Railroad, SOUNDBIB